Rail-joint.



-N0.a57,a6o. PATENTEE JUNE 25, 1907A E. J. BECKER. Y

RAIL JOINT.

APPLIoATzoN FILED MAE. 1s. 1907.

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4K GEORGE J. BECKER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application tiled March 18,1907. Serial No. 362.830.

To rI// 'LU/1,0m, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. BECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain .new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to rail-joints and supports, andits primary object is the provision of a simple and effective support and connector for the ends of rail-lengths whereby spreading of the rails and the pounding and wear of the upper edge of the rail ends are entirely obviated.

The invention consists in a base set into depressions in a plurality of ties so as to prevent lateral and endwise movement. thereof, in providing said base with upstanding flanges between which the rails set upon the base are confined, and in securing said. rails and the base to the ties with spikes, each spike serving to secure the base to the ties and the rail to the base.

The invention further consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, corresponding numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several. figures.

Figure l is a perspective view showing my improved rail-joint and support. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line` 2 2, Fig.v 3. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. -1 is a detached perspective view of the base.

The reference numeral 5 designates the ties, three of which are ordinarily employed in conjunction with my invention on a straight course of trackage, but on curves or crossings the numbers are naturally varied to suit the varying conditions. The ties are provided with transverse depressions 6, the intermediate tie having its depression extending from side to side while the two outer ties have their depressions extending through a portion of their width only, thus providing end shoulders or abutments 7. .Within the dey pressions of the ties is fitted a metallic base or plate corresponds to the depth of the depressions 6 so that the upper surface thereof is alined with the bearing surface provided by the other ties of the road-bed. By reason of the two outer ties of those used in direct connection with my improved. rail-joint having their depressions extending only through a portion of their wid th, the rail bears directly thereon in addition to bearing on the plate embedded therein.

The base plate has upstanding iianges 10 along its longitudinal edges between which the rail is seated. The abutting ends of two adjacent rail-lengths are connected by iishplates 11 in the usual manner so that they are securely tied together. It is essential that the flanges 10 be of sufficient height to serve as effective retainers against side displacement of the rail, and in order to relieve the shoulders 7 of the depressions in the two outer ties of part of the endwise thrust of the base plate, I have found it desirable to make said lianges of suliicient height to project above the edges of the rail base and to provide the projecting portions thereof with notches 12 which receive the heads of spikes 13 4that extend over and bear against the base flanges of the rail. In this manner, they serve to retain the rail in the base-plate and secure the latter to the ties. The sides of the heads of the spikes serve as retainers to check the endwise movement of the base-plate, and consequently relieve the abutments 7 of some of the endwise thrust which is known to be considerable when a Iheavy train is passing over the joint at a high speed. This is very desirable where wooden ties are used in connection with the base-plate, as it prevents the crushing of the wood and the consequent wearing away of the abutments 7.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the base-plate is securely confined in the depressions ofthe ties and also held against lengthwise and lateral movement and that by use of the flanges 1() on the said plate, spreading of the rails is an impossibility. The baseplate also assures conjoint movement ofthe rail ends under the weight of a train, and therefore wearing of the upper edges of the rail ends and the consequent pounding is entirely obviated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,-

1. In a rail-joint and support, the combination of three ties having transverse depressions therein, the depressions of the two outer IOO ITO

ties extending through a portion of their width to form abutments and the depression of the intermediate tie extending from side to side thereof, a base-plate set into said depressions with the ends abutting against the abutments of the two outer ties and having longitudinal upstanding flanges, said plate having the ends of two adjacent rail-lengths seated thereon between its flanges, and means to secilire said plate to the ties and the rail to said p ate.

'2. In a rail-joint and support, the combination of three ties having transverse depressions therein, the depressions ofthe two outer ties extending through a portion of their width to form abutments and the depressions of the intermediate tie extending from side to side thereof, a base-plate set into said depressions with the ends abutting against the abutments of the two outer ties and having longitudinal upstanding ianges7 said plate having the ends of two adjacent rail-lengths seated thereon between its Hanges and the latter projecting above the edges of the rail base with notches formed in the projecting por tions thereof only, and spikes having their heads entering said notches and bearing against the bottom of the same-and against the rail base.

In testimony whereof I, have a'ihxed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE J. BECKER. itnesses:

EMIL NEUHART, ELLA C. PLUE'cKHAi-IN. 

